Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors may have increased risk for cardiovascular disease

the ONA take:

According to a new study published online in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers in the Netherlands have found that survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases.

For the study, researchers evaluated 2,524 Dutch patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at younger than 51 years of age who had survived for 5 years after diagnosis. Patients had received mediastinal radiotherapy and anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Results showed that Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors had a 4-fold to 7-fold increased risk for coronary heart disease or heart failure 35 years or more after cancer treatment compared with the general population.

Researchers also found that mediastinal radiotherapy increased the risk for coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, and heart failure, while those who received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy had a higher risk for valvular heart disease and heart failure as first events events versus patients who did not receive those treatments.

The findings suggest that "treating physicians and patients should be aware of the persistently increased risk of cardiovascular diseases throughout life, and the results of our study may direct guidelines for follow-up of patients with HL."

Survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma appear to be at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases and both physicians and patients need to be aware of this increased risk.